4 Reasons Why I Think We Should Stop Complaining About the Cost of School Supplies

‘Six glue sticks? What are they going to do with six glue sticks?’ Uh, have you met a six year old? I bet that Olivia could go through a glue stick a week, without fail, glue-ing all of the things, onto everything. Complaints about school supplies list, about the costs of the supplies and the contempt that comes from comments like ‘I’m not stocking the classroom for other people’s children’ in shared supply classrooms cause me to shake my head.

It’s the Cost of Having Children

It’s one of those costs of having children. Kind of like feeding them, and clothing them, at one point you realize that this little person is going to go to school, and that’s going to come with a whole new type of costs; supplies, fees, transportation – you had kids knowing full well that there were going to be costs involved.

You’ve Probably Got No Idea How Much of Their Own Money Teachers Spend

With teachers in the family, teachers as friends, and pretty much the ability to feel empathy for others – we’ve realized that teachers spend a heck of a lot of their own money investing in their students. The hundred bucks that you’re going to spend on school supplies,

You Knew it Was Coming

Lamenting about the costs of markers, pencil crayons and crayons falls on deaf ears around here. September comes around once a year, and yes, it’s expensive – but you knew it was coming. Planning, saving and comparing prices to find the best bang for your buck when you’re shopping can help you to save.

The Teacher Isn’t Being Obnoxious

The brand reccomendations on that school supplies list you received in the mail with your introductory package isn’t meant to be obnoxious. You’ve likely discovered in your own line of work that certain brands or items, work better. Well, teachers have clearly discovered the same thing when they’re making the list. We’ve done plenty of arts and crafts, and I call tell you that there’s a big difference between off-brand and name brand glue sticks, crayons and much much more.

I think we should complain less, and offer more. No, you don’t have to offer up more school supplies. If you’re unable to do that, offer your time. Ask teachers if they need support, if there is anything needed for the classroom that you might have at-home, or at work. For that reason, instead of grabbing a box of kleenex on our list, I grabbed a six pack of Kleenex that was on sale for a few dollars more.